New England cooking in every BixBite

WESTFORD -- Carl Berg worked in the restaurant business for 40 years before opening an eatery of his own in December 2011. He can now be found wearing many hats at BixBite on Littleton Road, filling in on shifts as needed -- he does 95 percent of the cooking but also often washes dishes, waits tables, and tends bar -- and chats with the regulars.

And boy, are the omelets at BixBite stuffed with ingredients. The year-old eatery offers 10 varieties of omelets including the New Englander (ham, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, Vermont cheddar and salsa), during its breakfast hours six days a week.

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It's New England cuisine that inspired Berg to make comfort food the focus of the BixBite menu -- warm, hearty, homestyle dishes that include Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Meatloaf and Shepherd's Pie. "I wanted to stick with what I call 'traditional,' " said Berg, of Lowell. "There are so many fast-food places and chains ... I wanted homecooked, from scratch."

Berg uses as many fresh products in his dishes as possible. "People taste the difference," he said, adding that he also sources most of his ingredients from local purveyors.

While brainstorming a restaurant name online, Berg's business partner stumbled upon the BixBite, a rare gem found only in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah. The red paint accents on the restaurant's walls, door and bar, match the color of the rare stone. A 8-ounce burger at the 65-seat eatery shares its name with the mountain range and is topped with sautéed peppers and onions, pepperjack cheese and bacon.

"I like to give big portions and see people take the rest home," Berg said.